MMD national chairperson Michael Mabenga says no party member is interested in eliminating Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata because he is neither a threat nor a factor.
And Mr Mabenga has challenged the PF to provide evidence to show that MMD cadres are trying to eliminate Mr Sata.
Mr Mabenga said Mr Sata and his party are merely panicking as they are slowly losing popularity among the electorate.
He said this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday in reaction to the insistence by the PF that some MMD members attempted to eliminate the PF leader in Milanzi last week.
But Mr Mabenga said the PF leaders are politicising the matter because they know that they will suffer defeat in the forthcoming parliamentary by-elections in Milanzi and Mufumbwe.
“I am just from Milanzi and I can tell you that there is nothing for the PF, hence the allegations. This is just one of their schemes to gain sympathy from the electorate,” Mr Mabenga said.
He said the scheme by the opposition to discredit the ruling party will not work as Zambians have faith in the leadership of President Banda.
Mr Mabenga said the MMD is a party which respects human life despite the differences it encounters with other parties in the political arena.
He wondered what benefit the MMD will derive from killing Mr Sata, saying he has nothing to offer the Zambian people.
Mr Mabenga said the MMD is the champion of democracy and multi-partism and that it has no reason to eliminate political opponents.
He said no-one is trying to intimidate or eliminate Mr Sata but that his fear of being defeated is causing him to hallucinate.
“There is no way any of our members can engage in an activity such as trying to eliminate our opponents because we believe in democracy, so those assertions are just signs of fear on the part of the PF because they know they are losing popularity. But I can assure you that the schemes will not work,” he said.
Mr Mabenga said it was in fact the PF cadres who tried to intimidate members from other political parties, alleging that one of the PF members drew a pistol during the Milanzi incident.
He said none of the MMD members were in the vehicle that almost bashed Mr Sata.
“When the whole incident happened, it was actually the PF who tried to intimidate their opponents and one of them drew a pistol.
“None of our members was involved in the said incident in Milanzi…Mr Sata and his party are not a factor to us,” he said.
PF spokesperson Given Lubinda yesterday alleged that the attempt by an MMD cadre to run over Mr Sata with a vehicle was proof that his life is in danger.
Meanwhile, MMD women in Ndola have advised former Minister of Defence George Mpombo against dragging the Lamba tribe into his personal fights with the MMD.
MMD Ndola district women’s vice chairperson Lillian Katenga, said this in a statement issued in Ndola yesterday.
“Mr Mpombo is now embarrassing us as a tribe because his incessant utterances are causing concern. Mr Mpombo should realise that not every Lamba is against President Banda,” Mrs Katenga said.
She said the Lamba believe in the motto ‘One Zambia One Nation’ adding that this is why they have allowed other tribes to settle on their land.
“We do not want to be divided from the rest of the tribes in Zambia,” Mrs Katenga said.
She said it is unfortunate that Mr Mpombo wants the Lamba to fight his battles when he resigned on his own as Minister of Defence.
Mrs Katenga said the Lamba are not happy with the manner in which Mr Mpombo has been attacking President Banda.
“The Lamba in the ruling party are respectful of Mr Rupiah Banda’s leadership because he has maintained peace in the country and we appreciate unity as a basis of development and progress,” Mrs Katenga said.
She challenged Mr Mpombo to resign from the MMD and contest the Kafulafuta seat as an independent candidate so that he can gauge his
popularity among the Lamba whom he claims don’t want Mr Banda.
Mrs Katenga reminded Mr Mpombo that he is allegedly not Lamba but that his family merely settled in Lambaland.
He advised Mr Mpombo to refrain from attacking Mr Banda but to instead wait for the 2011 tripartite elections.
“I urge all peace loving Lambas not to be swayed by Mr Mpombo’s insinuations that are bent on alienating us from the rest of the tribes in Zambia,” Mrs Katenga said.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]
Iwe Mabenga,
If Sata is not a treat (which he is), why is the MMD government wasting resources on
1. Investigating the 1.2 billion saga he was cleared be DEC over 20 years ago?
2. Coming up with the degree clause to bar him from standing?
3. Investigating his arrest from more than 50 years ago?
The list goes on
The problem is Mabenga – or any other politician for that matter – presents his opinion as facts.
Y-A-W-N ….when do we actually roll up our sleeves and get to work in Zambia? That’s why I’m not voting next year, it remains a pointless effort. Its the same suits but different faces. Mabenga needs to shut his pie-hole before we remind him that his moral temperature is below 0 degrees. Numbskull.
Mr.Chairman sir, ignore these sore losers. They will resort to all acts of aberration politically. But because they are hollow dissemblers of a leaf in the wind, they will keep hallucinating in vanity. Look at how unpatriotic anti people, anti national development, and and anti-unity they are. Now they are publicly crying over RB’s spirited prodevelopment leadership on national infrastructure development. They are opposing national road network development.What kind of leaders are they that oppose national development, investment and social harmony in preference for political acrimony? They take pleasure in underdevelopment and hate an action oriented leadership that takes people’s calls for national developmental at heart.
Mrs Katenga reminded Mr Mpombo that he is allegedly not Lamba but that his family merely settled in Lambaland.
Zambia drama continues.Anyway,I know for a fact that Mpombo is a Ushi or from Luapula who has settled in Lambaland for a long time.The woman is right and the use of Lamba Card by Mpombo will backfire.I know him personally when he was our PTA Chairman at Chiwala Boys Tech.
Mr. Sata is just a y baby. He likes throwing water at others. When other people respond the same way the chap cries like hell. No wonder they call him former convict, adulter, serpent, Mr law suit. Shame on him
#4 Mpompo the duiker is not lamba (Kamalasha). He is just a settler in lambaland. Just like Given Lubinda, who hails from lenje land under chief Mungule. He is not known in Barotseland.
Senior Citizen, I thought you were intelligent! Read that story published by The mighty Post with due care. Are the leaders, Sata and Hichilema, opposing the drive? Not at all. All they are saying is highlighting the fact that RB is politicking over these roads, that people should not wholly believe him and receive his pronouncements for gospel truth. HH even says the initiative was overdue, its not crying and opposing. Hatred for these individuals would not take you anywhere. Do you remember what RB and George Kunda told people in Solwezi during the last by-election? They have never fulfilled any of the promises. Why should people take them seriously now and give them a vote? Desperation as Sata would put it. Don’t misrepresent what others have said.
I take the criticism RB is receiving as positive. Even in the US where you are Mr Senior Citizen, the opposition are opposing and criticising certain developmental initiatives. Take the Healthcare Policy recently launched. Isn’t it good? But the Republicans and others are criticising Obama for it. Criticism should give real leaders the push to shame the devils. Listen, if RB took the criticism and worked hard to improve things, he would be shaming Sata, HH, Edith et al. But there is nothing to point at which RB has initiated and carried on to completion. Nothing. We are not saying Sata, HH are saints, they human and do err and when they do, we cannot spare them
#5,#6 HISTORY – Whether Mpombo is Lamba are not ba MMD tapali ichabo in Lamba Land. I have a small holding in Chief Lumpama, Lufwanyama, and I can assure you that MMD is no more.If Mpombo is not Lamba, then he is just one of the 90% non Lambas who form the population of Lamba Land.DC Pwele has been tranfered from Lufwanyana because MMD thinks he is not doing enough to enhence their standings. I say no because the tide is too strong so much that even Dr. Puma has stopped talking and intimidating the locals percieved to be Upnd members.Elyo mwana in Lufwanyama the majority are Mwachiusas, Chokwes, Tongas, Bembas, Angolans so Mpombo is not alone if you say he is not Lamba.If he is Ushi, can you tell us his District, Chief and headman?
HISTORY DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, YOU STUPID ***** CHIKALA CHOBE, LEAVE SATA ALONE
Iwe SC why should RB announce/instruct on roads every time there is an election? These roads dont just spring up at election time. They are with us and we know their status. Since we are aware of them why not EFFECTIVELY include them in the budget and make their repairs/maintainance a planned excercise rather than an ant hill gymnstic? We are not stupid. You are behaving like a man who only buys food for his wife only whe he wants to have s ex with her- that is how MMD is.
Great man in the zambian history is Sata who was born under the tree. He has confounded all bootlickers, the man has God given polical brains that have no match. Long live Sata, Long live Sata.
Mwenda Njangula,
Review your “can you remember lessons” then come back here to do some damage control for your unpatriotic, anti national development, anti unitary state PACT sore losers ever distant from national interest. There they are fiercely opposing capital expenditure on such capital projects. Are these road infrastruture projects not for the good of the country? Were you chaps expecting RB under the Global recession to tackle every 45 year developmental challenge in 90 days of his reign? That utopia is only dangerous opportunism synonymous with Sata. Every rational actor appreciates the fact that national development is systemic and can only follow one project after another.RB has stabilized the economy, ended a culture of polarization and unpatriotism.
The Times of Zambia reported “But Mr Sata said his party had started holding elections at section, ward, district, and constituency levels that would lead to provincial elections and eventually the national convention at which his position would be up for contest from any party member… Asked why the party had failed to hold the convention for almost 10 years since the PF was formed, Mr Sata only accused the Government of making him their agenda” in todays issue which is Just to fill interesting stuff in this thread. Clearly, the PF needs to fulfill their promise to hold the indicated elections so that the PACT can go for primary elections to choose a Presidential candidate in all the 9 provinces of Zambia to strengthen the democratic process in the UPND-PF PACT.
_
Matt 6:33
# 11,
I will give you an example of father of Singapore turn around Lee Kuan Yew as best crucible of leadership. As you may need to know that Singapore is one of the world’s success stories and Lee is the man behind this success. Although a lot of critics question his style of leadership, often being seen as autocratic and dictatorial due direct involvement in public policy, but no one will question the success of Singapore that he has brought.
#14 Maestro Hhehhehhe- To appreciate the reasons why PF has never held any convention one has to start with the way the PF was formed. PF started as one party which only one parliamentary seat in the 2001 General Elections with its President coming a distant No.5 after MMD, UPND, FDD and HP. Infact what he got was less than 0.05%. Along the way due to Mr. Sata persistent campaigns, the PF grew and made an impressive 2nd against the MMD in 2006.The res is history. Now that it is a mass party, members should contribute toward the convention, its not Mr Sata to coff out his money alone.
# 11,
Americans say the buck stops at the waters edge. President Banda has the moral and constitutional mandate to get things happening.Lets look at one crucible of leadership icon in Nation developmental studies Lee.
One of Lee’s most obvious qualities from his reign and now counselor to ministers is that he is a no nonsense person and he says things as it is. He is not afraid to be blunt about certain truths and he often gets on people’s nerves for doing so. However, because of his approach, he manages to get things done.
Serpent Cobra Sata a bad relish to prepare! He is a shame of a political leaders.
#15
Senior Citizen- Dont compare a chicken to a duck just because they are birds. Our friends in Singapore became successiful because they knew the priorities. At that time Zambia had more money and more potential than Singapore. So ask what happened?
# 11,
President Banda as a consensus leader appreciates the fact that as a leader, the best thing any leader can do for his country and team is probably to say it as it is. It might hurt a few people, ruffle a few feathers, but to frame things as they are and allowing your team to face the truth is probably the best favour you can do for them and the country.
Although some might be offended or feel uncomfortable, you will gain a lot of respect for doing just that which is in best national interest.I wholly support any capital expenditure that is building infrastructure.Giving public resources, homes, money in the pocket and chibuku to cadre as a 90 days come rich miracle vision by Sata is not only utopia but not the option.RB is ploughing back into the people’s interest.
President Banda’s 1 year in office is shaming all rouble rousers in the opposition because its now evident that RB is idiocentrically unparrale to them. He beats them all in rallying the country because he appreciates the fact that a leader must have this resolve to just press on no matter how difficult the circumstances. In fact, it is this quality that separates the good from the excellent. Everyone can lead well when circumstances are favourable, but it is the times of adversity such as what RB has stirred the nation out of that really distinct him as a leader to mandate for another constitutional 5 years.He is not a saint but focused and stable rational actor.
Maestro Hhehhehhe
No matter what bad words you may utter against King cobra is just share waist of your energy. HH has already accepted the position Vice President. My advise to you is to talk to HH so that he can contest on UPND ticket so that he can come out third position for the third time
#7 The mighty Post?
Come on give me a break, they are no better than the govt dailes. just pandering to Sata and HH
While Sata has some political clout, our friend Hakainde grossly overates himself. I mean come on guys, of what benefit would it be to eliminate this political nonentity? HH can stand against an MMD ward chairman and still lose the elections! He has no muscle beyond the Bantu Botatwe. The only reason he went into a pact with PF is because he realised he would never be president in his life time. Has anyone else noticed how he has shed his gentleman demeanor for a thugish Sata-like character? All in the hope of winning some recognition. Sorry my friend, anyone with the slight imagination of eliminating you have lost their minds.
Anyone can see what’s up with people like you, senior citizen – political spin doctor! You are good my friend, very good. If I was a politician, I would hire you to save my reputation every time it went down the toilet.=d>